The pizza menu at J.J. Hapgood was a little more eclectic thanks to the creations of professional skiers and Olympians from Stratton Mountain School Nordic Team. Annie Hart created the Little Pizza on the Prairie, which was topped with local ground beef, caramelized onions, mushrooms, blue cheese, and fresh mozzarella. Olympic skier Sophie Caldwell created the Oleg’s Estonia Pizzas, a white-based pizza topped with local pulled pork, thinly sliced potatoes, caramelized onions, and fresh mozzarella. Not only did each athlete design and prepare the specialty pizzas, they also served the pies to customers all to raise funding for their team.
“These athletes are such a great source of inspiration for our community and amazing role models for our kids,” said J.J. Hapgood owner Juliette Britton. “It’s rare that the whole team is actually in town because they are often traveling to different parts of the world to compete. But when they are here, J.J. Hapgood is where they like to hang out—thanks to our menu of local food—so it was wonderful for them to be able to share in this experience of creating a menu, making the pizzas and celebrating the community.”
Customers enjoyed grooving to the sounds of live music from skier, Andy Newell and his father. J.J. Hapgood donated the cost of the pizzas and all funds raised will help support their team for training and traveling. A total of $1,900 was raised.
"Thanks so much to the J.J. Hapgood store for working with our SMS T2 team and hosting a great evening of dining, music and friendship,” said Sverre Caldwell, Nordic Program Director. “We have some of the best skiers in the world on our team and we are competing with nations where the skiers are national heroes. Having strong community support means so much to all of the athletes and events like the pizza party are an excellent way for the athletes and the community to interact. The Hapgood store is a perfect place for this to happen!"
J.J. Hapgood has held a variety of fundraising events for the Collaborative, Mountain Valley Medical Clinic, and an upcoming event for Neighborhood Connections.
J.J. Hapgood General Store & Eatery is a purveyor of basic provisions, dry goods, Vermont produce, meat and dairy products, local cheese, charcuterie, authentic wood-fired pizzas, prepared meals, penny candy, fine wine and beer. Historically, J.J. Hapgood has been the longest continuously-running general store in Vermont. Owner Juliette Britton, with her husband Tim, revived the grocery, eatery and community gathering space in 2013. J.J. Hapgood is located in the heart of historic Peru village in southwest Vermont.